After unveiling a transformative redesign of its maple 600 Series acoustic guitars earlier this year at the Winter NAMM Show, Taylor Guitars is expanding the rollout this spring. The new 600s, which were revoiced to bring out a richer, warmer maple sound and given a major aesthetic makeover, made their debut with an initial release of four models — the 614ce, 616ce, 618ce and 12-string 656ce. In the wake of rave reviews from industry leaders, dealers and media, two Grand Concert models join the series this spring: the 612ce and 612ce 12-Fret.

You've got the bug—you’ve decided to buy an acoustic guitar—and nothing will stop you, not even the haunted, hungry look in your children’s eyes. So you empty your bank account, raid your kids’ college fund and head down to a local house of ill repute: a music store. You’re gonna get that acoustic, practicality and your wife’s entreaties be damned.

C. F. Martin & Co. announces new X Series and Road Series models, which are set to be unveiled at Musikmesse 2015 in Frankfurt, Germany April 15-18. The contemporary X Series new models to be showcased include the 00X1AE and GPX1AE and GPCRSGT new Road Series model. Additionally, on display will be the second Signature Artist Edition Guitar, Ed Sheeran X Signature Edition, which was designed in collaboration with multi-platinum selling artist Ed Sheeran.

Today we have our own Paul Riario checking out the new Lâg Tramontane Snake Wood Acoustic Guitar. Unlike any other acoustic guitar in its class, the Lâg Tramontane features exotic, highly figured Mexican Snake Wood back and sides and a solid AA Sitka Spruce top which produces an ideal, bright sound and a wide dynamic range. Even the rosette is exquisite.

Check out this clip of guitarist Lenny Hatch demoing his creation, The Guitar Drum. The device gives players an elevated pad for bass sounds or can serve as a scratch plate. The Guitar Drum can also serve as a snare mechanism, for more consistent snare sounds.

Vermont-based news channel WPTZ (where my late-Nineties girlfriend used to work!) recently published a feature on the Alpaca carbon fiber travel guitar, a "special guitar made to withstand the elements."

Get ready for some flying fingers! Here's Ben Woods playing his composition Tarantula on a 2014 Ethan Deutsch flamenco negra with pegs recorded for Guitar Salon International.. A lovely guitar and some mad virtuosic Flamenco-metal chops, what more could you ask for?

We know you guys like hearing about new pieces of gear—including gear-related oddities that appear on Kickstarter from time to time. Ergo, we present the Hand Chord, a new product that's the subject of a new Kickstarter campaign.

Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments is pleased to introduce the 2015 Bitterroot Aesthetic Package, available for all body styles of Weber’s handcrafted mandolins, sopranolins, mandolas, octave mandolins and mandocellos. The Bitterroot Series embodies tradition, with minimalist appointments and the highest attention to materials, construction, beauty and tone while maintaining affordability for discerning players.